Mo Mowlam's life story

Mo Mowlam was a popular politician who played a key role in reviving the Northern Ireland peace process.

Her two-year tenure as Northern Ireland Secretary saw the signing of the landmark Good Friday Peace Agreement in 1998.

The personal backdrop to this historic achievement was Mowlam's battle against a brain tumour, and the private pressures and strains this caused.

In her early life she was once stalked by a serial killer, and faced tragedy when the "love of her life" was killed in a swimming accident.

Mowlam – full name Marjorie Mowlam - was born in Watford, the second of three children, on 18 September 1949.

She went to the Coundon Court School in Coventry, before going on to read social anthropology at Trevelyan College, Durham.

After graduating she made some early political connections, working for Labour MP Tony Benn in London, and for American writer Alvin Toffler in New York.

In 1973, she moved to the United States and studied for a doctorate in political science at the University of Iowa, going on to teach politics at the University of Wisconsin in 1977, and then lecturing in the same subject at Florida State University.

In Florida she had a lucky escape, nearly becoming the victim of serial killer Ted Bundy, who she claimed was stalking her.

She escaped unhurt when he broke into her apartment while she was there, but weeks later Bundy murdered two women students on the nearby campus. He killed 23 women in total.

It was from her time in America that Mowlam said she lost "the love of her life". This was an American boyfriend called Dan Sammons, who died in a swimming accident in 1979.

Mowlam returned to the UK to teach at Newcastle University, before and moving on to become an administrator at Northern College, Barnsley.

She was politically active, working as treasurer on Neil Kinnock's leadership campaign in 1983.

It was in 1987 that her political career really took off. Just five days before the general election election, the local MP for Redcar decided to quit.

Mowlam went on to win the seat. She arrived at Westminster, aged just 38.

Mowlam was popular with Neil Kinnock – who described her as "one hell of a lass" – as well as future Labour leaders John Smith and Tony Blair

Her first Westminster job was as an assistant in the shadow Northern Ireland Office.

Then she became a spokeswoman on corporate affairs, where she took part in Labour's famous "prawn cocktail offensive" charm offensive on the City of London.

In 1995, she married merchant banker and Demos founder Jon Norton. But shortly before the 1997 general election she suffered a severe blow: being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Despite this she was made Northern Ireland Secretary after Labour's victory.

She visited the infamous Maze Prison and spoke to both Loyalist and Republican prisoners. She said to Gerry Adams before signing the Good Friday agreement: "Bloody well get on and do it, otherwise I'll head butt you.”

However, during negotiations for the agreement, it became clear that Mowlam was sidelined to an extent. She was said to have told Bill Clinton: "Don’t you know, I’m the new tea lady around here."

It was on her watch that early release of prisoners convicted of terrorist offences began, a consequence of the agreement. While she also opened up Stormont Castle in Belfast to hold its first concert, hosting Elton John, in 1998.

She decided to retire from Parliament before the 2001 General Election.

She died in 2005, while she had made a full recovery from the tumour itself, she appeared to have suffered from balance problems as a result of her radiotherapy.

According to her husband, on 30 July 2005, Mowlam fell over, received head injuries and never regained consciousness.